The Public Religion Research Institute has some numbers up in light of Tuesday night's State of the Union address. 48% of Americans say that the American Dream once held true, but does not hold true anymore. In a touching moment before the speech began, the president embraced Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). Says Debra Dean Murphy at the Christian Century: Let's not politicize this woman.

Bishop Joseph McFadden of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has turned some heads by saying that the PA school system models the ideals of Hitler. Scott Alessi says that that this might not have been the wisest choice of words.